Clinical Profile and Management Outcomes of Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – A Hospital-Based Study

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common compressive neuropathy of the upper limb, caused by median nerve entrapment at the wrist, leading to numbness, tingling, and hand weakness. It predominantly affects middle-aged adults and is more common in females. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical profile, treatment modalities, and outcomes of patients with CTS in a hospital-based setting. Methods & materials: This hospital-based descriptive study was conducted on 86 patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) at Monno Medical College and Hospital, Manikganj, Bangladesh, from January 2025 to December 2025. Patients of all ages and both sexes presenting with clinical symptoms of CTS, such as numbness, tingling, nocturnal symptoms, hand pain, and weakness, were included. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 26.0. Result: Most presented with numbness or paresthesia (90.7%), nocturnal symptoms (75.6%), and hand pain (69.8%), with positive Phalen’s (83.7%) and Tinel’s signs (79.1%). Electrophysiological assessment showed mild CTS in 37.2%, moderate in 45.3%, and severe in 17.5% of patients. Treatment was predominantly conservative (52.3%), followed by steroid injection (30.2%) and surgery (17.5%). Overall, 55.8% achieved complete symptom relief, 32.6% partial improvement, and 11.6% showed no improvement or recurrence, with the highest success observed in surgically managed patients. Conclusion: The majority were middle-aged females presenting with numbness, nocturnal symptoms, and moderate disease severity. Conservative management and steroid injections provided satisfactory improvement in mild to moderate cases, while surgical release achieved the highest rate of complete symptom relief, especially in severe or refractory patients.